Berg Cynthia A, Smith Timothy W, Ko Kelly J, Beveridge Ryan M, Story Nathan, Henry Nancy J M, Florsheim Paul, Pearce Gale, Uchino Bert N, Skinner Michelle A, Glazer Kelly
Department of Psychology, University of Utah, 380 South 1350 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
Psychol Aging. 2007 Sep;22(3):420-7. doi: 10.1037/0882-7974.22.3.420.
Collaborative problem solving may be used by older couples to optimize cognitive functioning, with some suggestion that older couples exhibit greater collaborative expertise. The study explored age differences in 2 aspects of collaborative expertise: spouses' knowledge of their own and their spouse's cognitive abilities and the ability to fit task control to these cognitive abilities. The participants were 300 middle-aged and older couples who completed a hypothetical errand task. The interactions were coded for control asserted by husbands and wives. Fluid intelligence was assessed, and spouses rated their own and their spouse's cognitive abilities. The results revealed no age differences in couple expertise, either in the ability to predict their own and their spouse's cognitive abilities or in the ability to fit task control to abilities. However, gender differences were found. Women fit task control to their own and their spouse's cognitive abilities; men only fit task control to their spouse's cognitive abilities. For women only, the fit between control and abilities was associated with better performance. The results indicate no age differences in couple expertise but point to gender as a factor in optimal collaboration.
老年夫妇可能会采用协作式问题解决方式来优化认知功能，有迹象表明老年夫妇展现出更强的协作专业能力。该研究从协作专业能力的两个方面探究了年龄差异：配偶对自身及配偶认知能力的了解，以及根据这些认知能力调整任务控制的能力。参与者为300对中老年夫妇，他们完成了一项假设性的差事任务。对夫妻双方的互动进行编码，以确定丈夫和妻子所施加的控制。评估了流体智力，配偶对自己及配偶的认知能力进行了评分。结果显示，在预测自身及配偶认知能力的能力，或根据能力调整任务控制的能力方面，夫妻专业能力不存在年龄差异。然而，发现了性别差异。女性会根据自己及配偶的认知能力调整任务控制；男性仅根据配偶的认知能力调整任务控制。仅对女性而言，控制与能力之间的匹配与更好的表现相关。结果表明夫妻专业能力不存在年龄差异，但指出性别是实现最佳协作的一个因素。
